Sunita Viswanath is a leading human rights advocate and progressive faith leader, best known as co-founder of Women for Afghan Women, where she served for more than two decades as Board Chair and donor, helping grow it into one of the largest organizations supporting Afghan women and girls. Her work has focused on survivors of domestic violence, women and children in prison, and family mediation. She is also the founder of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus and Hindus for Human Rights, and has been widely recognized for her leadership, including the Global Women’s Rights Award, the White House Champion of Change Award, and recognition as one of the faith leaders to watch by the Center for American Progress. She also serves on the advisory board of Unfreeze Afghanistan and remains actively engaged in advocacy for Afghan women and girls.

Masuda Sultan is an Afghan-American women’s rights advocate and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience supporting women and girls through education, vocational training, and protection from violence. She is a co-founder of Women for Afghan Women, where she served for 21 years as a board member and donor, helping build it into one of the largest organizations serving Afghan women and girls. Her broader leadership includes advising Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance, co-founding All in Peace, and serving on the Council on Foreign Relations Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Committee. An author and public advocate, she holds an MPA from Harvard University and is also co-founder and Executive Director of Unfreeze Afghanistan, continuing her longstanding work to advance peace, protection, and opportunity for Afghan women and girls.

Brittany Strelluf is a Board Member of ABAAD Afghan Women Forward and an educator dedicated to supporting Afghan girls and women through language learning and academic empowerment. She currently serves as a Duolingo English Test mentor with Empower Afghan Girls Together (EAGT), an initiative focused on expanding educational opportunities for Afghan girls. She has been an ESL educator since 2012 and holds a Master’s degree in TESOL Education as well as a Master’s degree in Education and Technology. With extensive international teaching experience, she has taught communication, women’s history, and English to students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds across different age groups. Her work centers on education as a pathway to empowerment, with a strong focus on helping Afghan girls and women strengthen their English language proficiency and access international academic opportunities. She is committed to advancing educational access as a fundamental human right and supporting women and girls in reaching their academic and personal potential. As a Board Member, she contributes her educational expertise and advocacy to support ABAAD’s mission of expanding access to education and creating meaningful opportunities for Afghan women and girls.

Tessa Blades is an educator and Board Member of ABAAD Afghan Women Forward, specializing in English instruction, history education, and academic skills development. Through the Empower Afghan Girls Together (EAGT) initiative, she teaches TOEFL preparation, B2 English, and academic writing to Afghan girls and women, supporting their academic growth and language proficiency. She is an experienced ESL and ELA educator with a strong background in curriculum development and standardized test preparation. Her work has focused on creating structured and accessible learning pathways that strengthen communication skills, academic performance, and learner confidence across diverse educational and cultural environments. Her commitment to education is rooted in the belief that learning has the power to transform lives and create opportunity. She has dedicated her work to supporting Afghan women and girls in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to pursue independence, personal growth, and long-term academic success. As a Board Member, she contributes her experience and educational leadership to support ABAAD’s mission and help expand awareness, access, and opportunities for Afghan women and girls through education.

Cheryl Concetta St. Denny is an educator and Board Member of ABAAD Afghan Women Forward, serving as a B2-level instructor within the Empower Afghan Girls Together (EAGT) initiative. Her work focuses on teaching and encouraging students in conflict-affected and underserved regions where educational opportunities remain limited or inaccessible. She currently works as a substitute teacher in public high schools in Portland, Maine, USA. Her international teaching experience includes China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Türkiye, and the United States, where she has taught English at both high school and university levels to students from diverse educational backgrounds. She holds a Master of Science degree in Global Conflict and Human Security from the University of New Hampshire. Her expertise focuses on international relations and humanitarian work, particularly the role of education in supporting individuals living in conflict-affected and unstable environments around the world. Her work with ABAAD is driven by a commitment to supporting Afghan girls through education, mentorship, and academic encouragement. She is dedicated to helping students build confidence, remain motivated, and develop meaningful pathways toward long-term academic and personal success. As a Board Member, she contributes her educational and humanitarian experience to support ABAAD’s mission and strengthen programs that expand educational access and opportunity for Afghan women and girls.